'Ms.' Bono takes flack for Chastity's sex change

Headlines in the press reading “Bono Announces Sex Change” and “Bono Undergoes Gender Reassignment” had U2 fans in a frenzy this past week.

But the Irish rock band’s groupies can relax – it’s Sonny and Cher’s daughter, Chastity Bono – not the U2 frontman – that is undergoing a sex change op.

Web sites are having lots of fun playing with the name mix-up. The Huffington Post’s Hollywood Ham writes how Bono, a.k.a. Paul Hewson, had lots of explaining to do to his wife, Ali, when news of “Bono’s” sex change broke.

“‘I had no idea what was going on when my wife called in tears,’ recalled Bono, who seemed not only annoyed at the false claims, but at the fact that explaining himself was distracting from his usual activities of saving the world and being over-dramatic,” writes HuffPo.

“‘She kept on repeating ‘It all makes sense,’ but I thought she'd just finally understood why we made our ‘Pop’ album. Turns out she thought I was a woman.’”

The actual transgender star, the openly gay Chastity (Chaz) Bono, who’s been active in the LGBT movement for many years, began his gender reassignment after his 40th birthday on March 4.

A spokesman for Chaz told the Associated Press he “has made the courageous decision to honor his true identity,” and his publicist said Chastity hopes “that his choice to transition will open the hearts and minds of the public regarding this issue.”

According to the HuffPo’s write up, U2’s Bono would consider having a sex change too, but for different reasons.

“‘If one child in Africa was happier because I became a woman, I would go through with it,’ said Bono. ‘It doesn't matter if I'm a man or a woman. The only reason I exist on this planet is to save it. And wear women's sunglasses.’”